The term "rural areas" refers to regions that are sparsely populated and are mostly characterized by agricultural activities. Synonyms for "rural areas" include countryside, hinterland, outback, bush, backcountry, boondocks, and hamlets. These terms describe areas that are outside major cities and have less economic development and technological infrastructure. The countryside refers to regions with farmland, forests, and hills focusing on agriculture. Hinterland, an area beyond a city, town, or seaport, and often the site of resources extraction. Outback refers to remote arid or semi-arid regions in Australia, and bush is an informal word to talk about rural areas. Backcountry refers to areas that are inaccessible, rugged, or remote. Boondocks is an American slang term commonly used as a rural area, and hamlets describe small or isolated rural communities.